Launching device for aeronautical toys and the like



Dec. 9, 1969 v w. w. MORRIS 3,482,807

LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL TOYS AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1967 INVENT R. Lt ZZZ $7 23 United States Patent 3,482,807 LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL TOYS AND THE LIKE William Whitby Morris, Warren, Mich., assignor of twothirty-thirds percent each to Charles Seaborn, Sr., Detroit; Gloria M. Horrell, Warren; Oliver N. Bell, Dearborn; Troy Robertson and Frank C. Richmond, Detroit; Larry N. Schatfner, St. Clair Shores; Charles I. Lakatos, Lincoln Park; Robert D. Adler, Warren; Oscar W. Juntikka, Taylor; John F. Stovell, Detroit; and Mary J. Morris, Warren; all of Michigan Filed July 5, 1967, Ser. No. 651,275 Int. Cl. A63h 27/14 U.S. Cl. 244-155 3 "Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A body having a first passageway formed therein, for receiving a kite string therethrough, is provided with a release mechanism comprised of a generally U-shaped wire with a forwardly mounted abutment member. A parachute, connected to the release mechanism pulls the launching device body and release mechanism upwardly along the kite string until the abutment member engages a pre-positioned stop at which time the U-shaped wire is moved relative to the body thereby permitting the parachute and any toy to be disengaged from one of the legs of the U-shaped wire causing the parachute and toy to descend to the ground while the launching device body returns by traveling downwardly along the kite string.

Background of the invention In the past, various launching devices for aeronautical toys and the like have been proposed. However, none of such prior art devices have been found to be satisfactory. For example, some prior art launching devices have employed hooks attached to the launching device body for mounting the device onto the kite string. Such books have been of the open type wherein they only appear to form a complete circle when viewed in one direction. The problem which the prior art devices have overlooked is the fact that such launching devices are pulled upwardly along the kite string, which is bowed because of the wind velocity, by a parachute and in so doing the parachute usually causes the launching device to undergo a spinning action about the kite string. The launching device body, while spinning, is effected by gravity which results in the body flopping about the string in random fashion. As a consequence of this the open hooks often become disengaged from the kite string rendering the launching device ioperative for its intended purpose.

Other prior art launching devices have attempted to circumvent this problem by providing closed U-shaped staple-like books through which the kite string is threaded. Such U-shaped hooks have not proven to be satisfactory because of the frictional resistance created between the hooks and kite string. The frictional resistance has been known to be of such a high degree as to prevent the launching device from ascending the kite string.

Further problems of the prior art devices, aside from the fact that they usually require a considerable number of separate parts, usually exhibit themselves in the area of premature actuation of the toy and/0r parachute releasing mechanism. That is, the release mechanism usually included a small probe-like abutment member, situated forwardly of the launching device body, which was intended to engage a pre-positioned fixed stop on the kite strong in order to actuate the release mechanism. The problem overlooked by the prior art is that such probe-like abutment members were of a shape and size 3,482,807 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 which closely confined therewithin the kite strong. As a consequence any one of such variable factors as the degree of bow in the kite string, an unexpected knot in the kite strong or the random motion imparted to the launching device body while undergoing spinning about the kite string would usually cause the probe-like abutment to engage the string and bring about a premature actuation of the parachute and toy release mechanism while at other times even preventing the downward return of the launching device along the path of the string.

Summary of the invention The present invention comprises a launching device for aeronautical toys or the like having a body which carries a release mechanism adapted to be actuated as by striking or otherwise engaging a pre-positioned stop member situated as, for example on a kite string. The launching device body includes passage means for generally containing at least a portion of the release mechanism. A parachute or other suitable wind propelling device is suitably connected to the launching device, as by means of the release mechanism, for causing the launching device to ascend the kite string.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a launching device, for aeronautical toys and the like, which includes a release mechanism that is not normally susceptible to becoming entangled with a cooperating kite string.

Another object of this invention is to provide a launching device, for aeronautical toys and the like, which has a minimum of parts and which is easily assembled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a launching device, for aeronautical toys and the like, which has a relatively large bearing surface for contact with, for example, a cooperating kite string in order to reduce frictional drag therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when reference is made to the following description considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Description of the drawings In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a launching device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the launching device of FIGURE 1 with the various inner details illustrated by hidden lines;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the launching device of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the left end of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the launching device of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the right end of FIGURE 1 with portions thereof broken away and in cross-section for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 5 illustrates the launching device of FIGURE 1, 2, 3, and 4 in process of ascending a cooperating kite string with the launching device being shown in crosssection as if taken on the plane of line 5--5 of FIGURE FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 5 illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 77 of FIG- URE 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE "8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG- URES 1 and 2 illustrate one form of the invention wherein the launching device 10 comprises a body 12 having a longitudinally extending cylindrical passageway 14 formed therethrough. Additional passageways 16 and 18 are also formed through body 12 and are generally paralled to each other and to passageway 14. As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, body 12 is tapered downwardly from a cylindrical surface 20 of maximum diameter, to a cylindrical surface 22 of minimum diameter. The side surfaces 24 and 26 are formed as tangents to cylindrical surfaces 20 and 22.

Even though body 12 may be made of any of many suitable materials, it is preferred that the body 12 be made of a plastic material which is tough, resilient and has a relatively high tensile strength, high fiexural modulus, high fatigue endurance and a slippery low friction surface. These characteristics enable the body 12 to be of relatively thin-walled construction and yet prevent the accidental damage thereof as might be occasioned by inadvertently stepping on the body 12 when not in use. Further, the slippery low friction surface enhances the ability of the body 12 to be easily propelled upwardly along the kite string as will be described subsequently.

It has been discovered that acetal resin, a high melting, highly crystalline, thermoplastic polymer having a chemical structure represented by the formula (-OCH is highly suited for forming the launching device body 12. In this connection it has also been discovered that an acetal resin derived by polymerization of formaldehyde and sold commercially under the trademark, Delrin, is particularly suitable for use in forming a launching device body 12 according to the invention. Delrin acetal resin as tested by the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials) under standard conditions possesses the following physical properties:

Property ASTM N0. lValue Tensile strength at 75 F Floxural modulus at 73 F. Specific gravity Melting point (crystalline) In view of the above and in view of the accompanying drawings, it should be evident that the configuration of body 12, including passageways 14, 16 and 18, is one which lends itself extremely suitable for manufacture by either an extrusion or die-injection process. The same is, of course, true with regard to the embodiments and modifications of FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 as will become evident.

Passageways 16 and 18 respectively receive legs 28 and 30 of a generally U-shaped wire 32. Leg 28, as can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 5, is longer than leg 30 and further has its end 34 formed so as to pass through the lower portion of an abutment ring 36. Preferably, in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 5, abutment ring 36 is also constructed of a plastic such as Delrin. End 34 of U-shaped wire 32 may be bent back as at 38 so as to pass through the abutment ring 36 a second time and to be somewhat curled back on itself, as at 40 of FIG- URE l. in order to provide additional strength as between the abutment ring 36 and wire 32.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 5, the lower portion of body 12 has formed therein a notch 42 which has inclined forward and rearward walls 44 and 46 respectively. Each of the walls 44 and 46 diverge away from each other as they extend from the upper-most surface 48 of notch 42.

FIGURE illustrates the launching device in the process of ascending a string 50, threaded through passageway 14 and aperture 52 of abutment ring 36, which is secured at one end 54 to a flying kite 56 retained at its other end by the person engaged in flying the kite 56. The force for propelling the launching device 10 upward ly along the kite string 50 is provided by a parachute 5-8 which is subjected to the wind blowing in a direction from the person holding the kite string toward the kite 56. Parachute 58 may be provided with an extension 60 which, in turn, carries a hook or eyelet portion 62. Leg 30 of U-shaped wire 32 passes through the hook or eyelet 62 and thusly secures the parachute 58 to the launching device 10. If desired, an additional weight 64, which may be in the configuration of an appropriate toy, may be suitably secured to the extension 60. Even though not specifically illustrated, it should be apparent that a toy, separate from the parachute 58 could also be secured to leg 30 of wire 32 in the manner that parachute 58 is secured thereto.

It should be noted that the circular aperture 52 of abutment ring 36 is of a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of passageway 14 in body 12. Further, it is preferred that passageway 14 and aperture 52 be in general alignment with each other. As a consequence of this, the surface defining aperture 52 will be less likely to touch string 50 while the launching device 10 is traveling upwardly along the string 50 and toward kite 56. This is an important advantage over prior art constructions in that, as previously mentioned, launching devices of this general type have a tendency to spin about the kite string as the launching device is pulled upwardly by the parachute. The spinning of the launching device often results in the kite string rubbing or being at least partially caught by the forward-most portion of the release mechanism (a portion whose intended function is to act as the abutment ring 36 of this invention) resulting in a premature release of the aeronautical toy carried by the launching device. As can be seen from not only FIGURE 5, but also FIGURES 3 and 4, aperture 52 of abutment ring 36 is of a size sufiicient to avoid such unwanted engagement between itself and string 50.

Continued upward movement of launching device 10 brings it closer to a fixed abutment 66 which is manually positionable along the length of the kite string 50. The stationary abutment 66, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, may be comprised of a spherical body 68 of relatively light weight material such as, for example, cork. A slit 70 is preferably formed so as to pass through the medial portion of body 68 as well as a recess or cavity portion 72. Once the abutment body 68 is placed on string 50, as by passing the string through the slit 70, body 68 may be adjusted along string 50 for its desired position relative to kite 56. When the abutment body 68 is properly situated, a plug or wedge 74 can be pressed into the cooperating recess 72 so as to trap and wedge the string 50 between itself and the surface of recess 72 thereby containing the string therebetween against movement relative to abutment body 68.

The launching device 10, as shown in FIGURE 5, continues to move upwardly along kite string 50, through the action of parachute 58, until abutment ring 36 engages fixed abutment body 68 at which time abutment ring 36 and U-shaped wire 32 start to undergo relative movement with respect to alunching device body 12. That is, even though further upward movement of ring 36 has been arrested by the fixed abutment 66, parachute 58 continues to move launching device body 12 upwardly causing the forward end 76 of body 12 to more closely approach the ring 36. Such relative movement causes end 78 of the shorter leg 30 of U-shaped wire 32 to pass through the open notch 42 thereby releasing parachute 58 along with any other toy carried by leg 30 which was attached thereto by means of hook or eyelet 62. Once the parachute 58 is released, the launching device 10 slides down the kite'string 50 to the person flying the kite. Through experience, it has been determined that providing an inclined surface such as at 44 is of material advantage because this precludes the possibility of having the hook or eyelet portion of the parachute catch the otherwise sharp corner. That is, in some in- Stances where the wind velocity is of suflicient magnitude the parachute hook may disengage from the U-shaped wire but then almost simultaneously engage itself to the sharp corner of the notched cut-out.

Other advantages of the invention as disclosed herein is the provision of an extremely long bearing surface determined by the cylindrical surface of passageway 14. Because of this the load distribution along the string 50 in contact with passageway 14 is greatly enhanced as compared to the prior art devices. Further, providing a passageway such as 14 permits the wind to blow air through it which even further tends to reduce frictional drag as between the body 12 and string 50. It should also be evident that the provision of a passageway 14 prevents the body 12 from ever falling off of the string 50 even if the launching device undergoes spinning about the string 50 as it progresses upwardly through the action of parachute 58.

After the launching device 10 returns to the person flying the kite, all that needs to be done in order to have the launching device ascend again is to insert end 78 of leg 30 through another hook or eyelet such as 62 of a parachute, such as 58, by moving the U-shaped wire 32 forwardly as by holding body 12 and pushing on the bight 80 of wire 32.

FIGURE 6 illustrates another form of the invention; all elements which are like or similar to those of FIG- URES l, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are identified with like primed reference numbers. In comparing the inventions as disclosed by FIGURES 5 and 6, for example, it will be noted that in the embodiment of FIGURE 6, passageways 16 and 18 do not exist; instead a single passageway 82 serves to contain both legs 28' and 30 of U-shaped wire 32'. Further, the end of the longer leg 28' has integrally formed thereon a circular loop 84 which, when viewed from the front, forms a complete circle. The inner diameter 52' is as in the embodiment of FIGURES 15, substantially larger than the diameter of passageway 14'. With this arrangement, it is possible to completely preform the U-shaped wire 32' including the integrally formed circular abutment loop 84 and then insert the wire, bight-end-first, into and through the passageway 82. Since the abutment loop 84 precludes the possibility of the U-shaped wire 32' from moving to the left to the extent necessary to make it fall out of passageway or guide 82, it is necessary only to provide some means to prevent the U-shaped wire 32' from being withdrawn by movement to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 6. This may be accomplished by suitable retainer means 86 which is carried by body 12' in a manner so as to be generally between legs 28 and 30' and transverse to the passageway or guide slot 82.

FIGURE 7, an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 77 of FIG- URE 6, illustrates the retainer means 86 as comprising a pin 88 (which may also be formed of plastic material) received within a transversely directed passageway 90 formed in body 12. At some point generally intermediate the ends of the pin 88 an enlarged annular portion 92, preferably formed integrally with pin 88, is provided. The enlarged portion 92 may be crowned or tapered so as not to present an abrupt step from the diameter or outer surface of the remaining portion of the pin 88. With passageway 90 being of a size suflicient to readily accommodate pin 88, the enlarged portion 92 of pin 88 and the passageway 90 cooperate to function as a detent means to prevent the unintentional removal of pin 88 from body 12'. The annular enlarged portion 92 need not be greatly larger than the normal cross-section of pin 88; the resiliency of either or both of enlarged portion 92 or passageway 90 of body 12' permits the insertion of the pin 88 and detent portion 92 through passageway 90 in order to attain the position illustrated in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 8, a fragmentary cross-sectional view, illustrates a possible modification of the invention as disclosed by any of the proceeding figures. All elements which are like or similar to those of FIGURES 1 through 7 are identified with like reference numbers with a suffix a. It will be noted that in the modification of FIGURE 8, the ends 94 and 96 of passageway 14a are contoured so as to flare outwardly away from the center of passageway 14a. This further reduces the possibility that the launching device body 12a will in some way become caught on, for example, a knot in the kite string 50.

In addition to the modification of FIGURE 8, further modifications of the invention are contemplated as illustrated in both of FIGURES 1 and 2. That is, in order to facilitate the placement of the launching device body 12 onto the kite string 50, the body 12 may be provided with a cut or sliced portion as shown at 98 of FIGURE 1 or a sliced portion 100 as shown in FIGURE 2. In such modifications the kite string 50 could be forced through the cut or sliced portion and into the passageway 14, without the necessity of threading the string 50 through the passageway 14. The natural resiliency of the material comprising the body 12 tending to close the sliced portions plus the fact that the cut or sliced portions would be preferably formed in a direction not parallel to the passageway 14, would preclude the string 50 from being unintentionally withdrawn from passageway 14.

Even though only two emodiments and three modifications thereof have been disclosed and described, it is apparent that other embodiments and modifications of the invention are possible. For example, even though not specifically shown, it should be apparent that the launching device body 12, 12' or 12a could be comprised of two separate body sections one of which would contain the passageway 14 for the kite string 5,0, while the other section would be the lower portion containing either the passageway 16 and 18 or the larger passageway or guide slot 82. The body sections could be secured to each other by any suitable means either mechanically, adhesively or actually fused to each other as by the controlled application of heat to the surfaces to be joined.

I claim:

1. A launching device for aeronautical toys and the like comprising a body, a first passageway formed through said body for receiving therethrough cooperating upwardly inclined suitable string-like support means, release means carried by said body, said release means comprising a U-shaped member having a bight portion and first and second legs, and guide means formed in said body for slidably receiving said first and second legs therethrough, said guide means comprising a second single passageway of a width suflicient to freely admit therethrough said bight portion and said first and second legs, retaining means for precluding unintentional removal of said U-shaped member from said body, said retaining means comprising an abutment member extending generally transversely through said second passageway and positioned as to be generally between said first and second legs and in the path of travel of said bight portion of said U-shaped member, said retaining means including detent means for assuring continued assembled relationship of said abutment member with said body while yieldingly permitting the forcible disassembly thereof without damage to either said body or said abutment member, said first leg being longer than said second leg and carrying an annular abutment portion for engaging a cooperating pro-positioned stop member, said annular abutment portion having a relatively large inner opening for receiving said cooperating string-like support means therethrough, said body including a cut-out portion extending through said second passageway so as to expose at least a portion of said second leg, said exposed portion of said second leg being adapted for engagement with a cooperating wind-reactive propelling device for propelling said body upwardly along said string-like support means, said exposed portion of said second leg also being adapted to engage and carry an aeronautical toy and the like, said annular abutment portion being effective upon engagement with said stop member for causing said first and second legs to move relatively to said body thereby causing said exposed portion of said second leg to at least partly move through said cut-out portion in order to permit release of said cooperating wind-reactive propelling device and said aeronautical toy and the like.

2. A launching device for aeronautical toys and the like according to claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises an enlarged yieldingly deformable detent portion carried by said abutment member, including additional passage means formed in said body generally transversely of said second passageway, said abutment member being received by said additional passage means, and said detent portion being of a size and configuration resulting in an interfering fit with said additional passage means thereby retaining said abutment member in said additional passage means and preventing accidental disassembly of said abutment member from said body.

3. A launching device for aeronautical toys and the like according to claim 1 wherein said body and said first and second passageways are formed of resiliently deformable plastic, including a generally longitudinally extending slit formed through said body so as to extend from the outer surface of said body and terminate in the inner surface of said first passageway, said slit being formed in a direction so as not to be parallel with the longitudinal axis of said first passageway, said slit being adapted to open upon yielding deformation of said body in order to accept therethrough said cooperating string-like support means.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 620,596 3/1899 Lower 244l55 1,484,775 2/ 1924 Haight 244-l55 2,598,030" 5/1952 Bird 244155 2,944,775 7/1960 Selleck 244155 3,023,987 3/1962 Johnson 244-155 3,281,099 10/1966 Conway 244--155 FOREIGN PATENTS 622,721 3/1927 France. 590,621 7/ 1947 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner PAUL E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner 

